Bearing lubrication



May 12,1936 T. v. BucKwALTER 2,040,803

' BEARING LUBRIGATION Filed April 12, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l /4 l @j L/ l 5 I 0 Z0 L 5 l v l d y I v 5 /ff f 5 0 Z5 wim f May 12, 1936- T. v. BUCKWALTER 2,040,803

BEARING LUBRICATION Filed April l2, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 20 bols refer to like Patented May 12, 1936 PATENT OFFICEl 2,040,803 BEARING LUBRICATION Tracy V. Buckwalter, Canton,

The Tmken Roller Bearing Company,

Ohio, assignor to Canton,

Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application April 12, 1935, Serial No. 15,950

1o claims. (c1. sos-181) This invention relates to the lubrication of bearings, particularly vthe bearings for shafts or pins that are made 'hollow to provide a reservoir for lubricant for said bearings. A practical objection to such construction is that the lubricant is fed too freely to the bearings, thereby causing excessive lubrication, considerable loss of lubricant, and necessitating frequent ,relling of the reservoir. The principal object of the present invention is to overcome this objection by providing a relatively slow feed of the lubricant to the bearing. Other objects are simplicity and cheapness of construction and compactness of design. The invention consists in the lubricating bearing construction and in the combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification and wherein like symparts wherever they occur.

Fig. 1 is a central horizontal section through a main crank pin bearing of a locomotive provided with a device embodying my invention for retarding the flow of lubricant from the reservoir in the crank pin to the bearings,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical cross-section onv the line 2-2 in Fig. 1, l

Fig. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal fragmentary section through the main crank-pin andthe adjacent inner end of the oil feed tube,

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the oil feed tube without its end fittings,

'Fig 5 is an end view of said tube,

Fig. 6 is a central transverse section through the wrist pin of a locomotive cross-head construction provided with an oil feed mechanism embodying my invention,

Fig. '7V is a ycross-section on.the line 1.-.-1 inI Fig. 6,

40 Fig. 8 is a central longitudinal section through a front or rear crank pin bearing provided with an oil feeding device embodying my invention,

the section being taken on the line 8-8 in Fig. l0,

Fig 9 is a vertical cross-section on the line 9-9 in Fig. 8; and

Fig. 10 is a part front elevation and part crosssection on the line I-I0 in Fig. 8.

In the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inelusive, of the accompanying drawings, my invention is shown in connection with a locomotive drive construction comprising a main crank pin I rigid with the main driver wheel 2 and provided with a suitableantifriction'bearing preferably a double, taper roller bearing comprising two series of conical rollers 3 interposed between sepand cup arate cones 4 mounted on said crank pin and a doubly coned.cup5 upon which are journaled the adjacent ends of the main, intermediate and front side rods 6, 1, and 8, respectively, of the 1ocomotive drive construction: A-"spacer sleeve 9 is interposed between the two bearing cones 4; and said sleeve and cones are held on the main crank pin I by ring I0 on the outer end thereof. Mounted on the inner and outer ends of the bearing cup 5 are annular closure plates I land I2, respectively, that serve.to hold the main, front and intermediate side rods on the bearing cup. n

The main crank pin I is provided with an axial bore that is closed at its outer end by a plate I3 and at its inner end by a threaded plug I4 to provide a chamber or reservoir I5 that is supplied with lubricant through suitable oil feed fittings I6 mounted in the closure plate I3. The main crank pin is provided adjacent to the inner end ofthe outermost of the two bearing cones 4 with a plurality of radially extending lubricant passageways Il, whose outer ends communicate with an annular groove I8 around the inner periphery of said cone. Said cone is also provided with radial lubricant passageways I9 that lead from the groove I8 in the bore of the cone to the outer periphery thereof. The bearing cup 5 is also provided with radial lubricant passageways 20 leading from the interior of said cup to the outer driverod engaging surface thereof. Withv this arrangement, lubricant in the chamber I5 of the hollow crank pin ows through the radial passageways I1 in said pin, thence through the radial passageways I9 in the outermost bearing cone -into the annular space between the cones 4 and thence through the radial passageways 2|) in saidcup to the contacting surfaces of the cup and locomotive drive rods thereon.

In accordance with the present invention, means are provided for\ retarding the flow of lubricant from the reservoir I5 in' the hollow crank pin I to the parts that are to belubricated. Said means preferably comprise a tube 2| having its ends split and spread apart to form branches 22 with elongated openings 23 therebetween. The branches at one end of the tube terminate in outstanding flanges 24 that are bolted to the inner face of the threaded plug I4 for the inner end of the bore in the main crank pin. The branches at the other end of the tube ft within and are riveted or otherwise rigidly secured to a cylindrical sleeve 25 that is provided on itsr exterior surface with annular intermediate `'and end grooves 26 and 21, respectively. The intermediate means of a positioning and adjusting Y chamber the branches 22 of the tube 2I ywith a series of .A

radial holes 30 that establish communication between the interior of said tube and thebttoms of said grooves.

By the arrangementv described, any lubricant leaving the chamber I5 in the main crank pin I through the radial passageways I1 must rst pass through or around the felt washers 28 located on opposite sides of said passageways before reaching the intermediate groove 26 that directly communicates with said radial passageways. The lubricant passes around theouter peripheries of the felt rings 28 or into the groovesr 21 therefor through `the holes 29 and 3U and thence through and/or around said rings into the intermediate channel 2B, thereby causing a relatively slow feed of the lubricant to the bearings and thus preventing excessive lubrication,lwaste of lubricant 'and requiring less frequent replenishing thereof.

'Ihe device, being rigidly secured to and forming part of the threaded closure plug I 4 for one end of the bore in the crank pin, may be quickly and easily inserted in and removed from said pin. The openings 23 formed between the split ends 22 of the tube 2| permit the lubricant to occupy the annular spacearound the tube.

In the modification shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the invention is shown in connection with the hollow lubricant containing wrist pin Ia of a locomotive crosshead construction comprising a yoke 3I pivotally supported in a slidable shoe 32, roller bearings 33 interposed between said wrist pin and the spaced branches of said yoke, and a connecting or main rod 6a supported on said wrist pin between said branches. In this construction, the lubricant in the hollow wrist pin iiows to the bearings 33 through radial passageways I1a in said pin; and the bore in said wrist pin is closed at its inner end by means of a threaded plug I4 a. The oil retarding device -comprises a tube 2 Ia.

having one end welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the threaded'plug Illa and provided at its other end with a cylindrical sleeve 25a-- provided with felt washers 28a disposed one on each side of an annular groove 26a communicating with the radial passageway I1a leading to the outermost roller bearing. This sleeve 25a is provided with openings 29a and 30a and the tube 2Ia is provided with openings 23a. This arrangement operates in exactly the same manner as the arrangement hereinbefore described for retarding the iiow` of lubricant in the main crank pin bearings. Flow of oil through the radial passageways I1a leading to the innermost roller bearing -is retarded by means of a sleeve 25h mounted on and secured to the tube 21a and provided with an annular groove adaptedv to receive a felt washer 28h. The washer 28b is located between the passageway I1a for the inner bearing and the lubricant retarding Washers for the outer bearing and the groove for the single washer 28h is provided with openings 29h and 30h in its sides and bottom for permitting the ow of the lubricant into and out of said groove.

Figs. 8, 9., and 10 show a. front or rear crank pin Ib provided with means for retarding the -fiow n l2,040,803 groove 26 is located opposite to and in communiof lubificant to the passageways I'Ib leading from the reservoir of said pin to the bearings 35 interposed between said pin and the locomotive side rod 36. The lubricant retarding device cornprises a member 2 Ib rigidly secured to the closure plate I4b for the front end of the bore in the crank pin and having spaced branches extending within and riveted or otherwise secured to a sleeve 25e. The sleeve 25e` is provided on its exterior surface with felt rings 28o that 't the bore of said .pin on opposite sides of the radial passageways I1'b. 'Ihe annular washer receiving grooves are provided with side and bottom openings 29c and 30C, respectively, so that the lubricant may flow into and out of said grooves. With this arrangement, the lubricant -must pass through and/or around the felt rings before it vreaches the groove therebetween that communicates with the radial passageways I1b, thereby providing a relatively slow feed of the lubricant to the bearings 35.

While the hereinbefore described inyention is particularly applicable to the lubrication of bearings for the pins for supporting locomotive drive rods, it is also applicable to other bearing constructions wherein the lubricant feed is quite rapid due to rotary or transverse movement of the klubricant containing shaft or pin.

What I claim is:

l. An antifriction bearing, a shaft therein provided with a reservoir for lubricant and a series of circumferentially spaced passageways leading from said reservoir to said bearing, and means in said reservoir for retarding the flow of lubricant therein to said passageways, said means comprising a sleeve removably mounted in said reservoir-opposite said passageways, and a ring of porous material mounted o'n and vremovable with said sleeve and lling the space between said sleeve and the wall of said reservoir adjacent but entirely to one side of said series of passageways.

2. An antifrictionl bearing, a shaft therein provided with a lubricant containing reservoir and passageways, leading from said reservoir to said bearing, and means in said reservoir for retarding the flow of the lubricant therein to said passageways, said means comprising a sleeve mounted in said reservoir opposite said passageways, and a ring of porous material in the space between said sleeve and the wall of said reservoir on at least one side and entirely clear'of said passageways.

3., An antifriction bearing, a. shaft therein' munication with said passageways.

4. An antifriction bearing, a shaft therein provided with a lubricant containing reservoir and a series of circumferentially spaced passageways leading from said reservoir to said bearing, and means in said reservoir for retarding the iiow of the lubricant therein to said passageways. said means comprising a closure for an opening in said reservoir, a member rigid with said closure and extending into said reservoir, and axially spaced rings of porous material interposed bethe lubricant therein to said passageways,

40 intermediate groove 2,040,803 tween said tubular member and the wall of said reservoir on opposite sides of' said passageways.

5. An antifriction bearing, a shaft therein provided with a' lubricant containing reservoir and a series of circumferentially spaced passageways leading from said reservoir to said bearing, and means in said reservoir for retarding the flow of said means comprising a closure for an .opening in said reservoir, a member rigid with said closure and extending into said reservoir, a sleeve mounted on said member, and axially spaced rings of porous material mounted on said sleeve and engaging the wall of said reservoir on Vopposite sides of said passageways.

6. An antifriction bearing, a shaft therein-provided with a lubricant containing reservoir and a series of circumferentially spaced passageways leading from said reservoir to said bearing, and means .in said reservoir for retarding the ow of the lubricant therein to said passageways, said means comprising a plug for closing an opening in said reservoir on one end of said shaft, a tubular member rigid withsaidplug and extending into said reservoir axially of said" shaft, and axially spaced rings of porous material interposed between said tubular member and the wall of said reservoir on opposite sides of said passageways,

7. An antifriction bearing, a shaft therein provided with a lubricant containing reservoir and passageways leading from said reservoir to said bearing, and means in said reservoir for retarding the flow of the lubricant therein to said passageways, said means comprisingv a plug for closing an opening in said reservoir, a tube having one end rigid with said plug, a sleeve mounted on said tube and provided on its exterior surface with annular end and intermediate grooves, the being in communication with said passageways, and rings of porous material mounted in the annular end grooves in said sleeve in contact with the wall of said reservoir. o A

8. An antifriction bearing, a shaft therein provided with a lubricant containing reservoir and passageways leading from said reservoir to said bearing, and means in said reservoir for retard- -ing the flow of the lubricant therein to said pas- 50 sageWayS, said means comprising a plug for closing an opening in said reservoir, a tube having with said passageways,

one end rigid with said plug, a sleeve mounted on said tube and provided on face with annular end and intermediate grooves, the intermediate groove being in communication and rings of porous material mounted in the annular end grooves in said sleeve in contact with the wall of said reservoir, the sleeve engaging portion of said tube having openings therein and said sleeve having openings' therein leading from the openings in said tube to thek bottoms of the ring receiving grooves.

9. An antifriction bearing, a shaft therein provided with a lubricant containing reservoir and passageways leading from said reservoir to said bearing, and means in said reservoir for retarding the flow of the lubricanttherein to said passageways, said means comprising a plug for closing an opening in said reservoir, a tube having longitudinally slit and expanded end portions, one of said end portions being rigid with said plug, a sleeve mounted on the other end portion o'f said tube and provided on its exterior surface with annular end and intermediate grooves, the intermediate groove being disposed opposite said passageways, and -rings of porous material in the annular end grooves of said sleeve in contact with the wall of said reservoir.

10. An antifriction bearing, a shaft therein provided with a lubricant containing reservoir and passageways leading from said reservoir to said bearing, and meansv in said reservoir for its exterior surretarding the flow of the lubricant therein to said passageways, said. means comprising a plug for closing'an opening in said reservoir, a tube having longitudinally slit and expanded end portions, one of said end portions being rigid with said plug, a sleeve mounted on the other end portion of said tube and provided on its exterior surface with annular end and intermediate grooves, the intermediate groove being disposed opposite said passageways, and rings of porous material in the annular end grooves of said sleeve in contact with the wall of said reservoir, the side walls of said end grooves being provided with openingsin communication with the reservoir and the intermediate groove, and the bottoms of said end grooves being provided with openings communicating with the interior of said tube. 

